A stroll into Narnia once again…

The Chronicles of Narnia  by C.S. Lewis have become a classic in literature. I remember ordering my very first set of those books from the book order when I was in grade 5. I still have that set (well-loved and repaired/strengthened with lots of tape) and have read the first few to my kids over the past couple of years. I have really enjoyed reading them as an adult, and am now reading the series through again…just for myself. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while now, but never getting around to actually starting them (despite their short length). But I came across a new publication of the Chronicles  with a gorgeous set of covers that drew me in again to the stories. I’m a sucker for a beautiful book cover, and these books were no different. I must say I bought them (even though I have a copy of that series already) because the deal was too good to pass up: 3 books for $10. I’d say it was a good investment and a good deal! Here are some pics of my new acquisitions! Enjoy!

I love the colours used, and the fact that each book is a different colour palette. I also really love the font on the covers which is also used within the book for the chapters. These are just really beautiful books and I’m so glad I can share them with you! If I had to pick a favourite of these covers, I’d have to choose The Horse and His Boy  for the sheer fact that it’s pink 😉

Do you have a favourite book in this series? Cover or the actual story? Please share, I’d love to hear from you.

Must run, I’m heading through the Wardrobe to get back into Narnia!

Peace.

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Tides of Honour by Genevieve Graham

Tides of Honour by Genevieve Graham.

“It’s 1916, and the last thing Nova Scotian soldier Danny Baker expects to find in war-torn France is the love of his life. Audrey Poulin is alone in the world, and struggling to survive the war in the French countryside. When Audrey and Danny meet and fall in love, it seems like the best version of fate. But love is only the beginning, as Danny loses a leg in the Battle of the Somme, and returns home to Halifax with Audrey, only to discover that he’s unable to leave the war behind. Danny and Audrey struggle with their new life together, and must face not only their own internal demons, but a catastrophe that will soon rip apart everything they think they know about themselves and each other.” (Goodreads).

This was a really great book. I didn’t know too much about the Halifax Explosion (what I knew was mostly from that Heritage Minute series on Canadian television) so this was a great read to gain some insight into the explosion and the aftermath of that terrible tragedy. It was also great to read about the relationship between Danny and Audrey and how it grows and changes over time as their circumstances shift and change.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

This book is written by Canadian author Genevieve Graham who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

*My progress for this Challenge is 8/13!!!

Eyefoods by Dr. Laurie Capogna, OD & Dr. Barbara Pelletier, OD

Eyefoods: A Food Plan for Healthy Eyes  by Dr. Laurie Capogna, OD & Dr. Barbara Pelletier, OD

When I began reading through this book, I found out that it’s written and published in Canada…hence it qualifies as one of my books for The Canadian Book Challenge! Yay!

As eye health has become important to me, this book came highly recommended. It was so interesting to read what specific foods are good to consume in order to maintain healthy eyes! I especially enjoyed the section that talks about the foods and gives great tips and recipes to help incorporate these foods in our diet.

This book “is supported by in-depth research and over 25 years of optometric experience. With the latest scientific study results, practical advice, and meal ideas and recipes, Eyefoods is a comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to science and health. This exciting new book highlights the power of nutrient-rich foods such as green vegetables, cold water fish, and orange vegetables in maintaining optimum eye health. Eyefoods explains exactly how simple it is to keep your eyes healthy for a lifetime while improving your overall health in the process.” (Goodreads)

*My progress for this Challenge is 7/13!!!

419 by Will Ferguson

419 by Will Ferguson.

Here’s the synopsis from Goodreads: “A car tumbles down a snowy ravine. Accident or suicide? On the other side of the world, a young woman walks out of a sandstorm in sub-Saharan Africa. In the labyrinth of the Niger Delta, a young boy learns to survive by navigating through the gas flares and oil spills of a ruined landscape. In the seething heat of Lagos City, a criminal cartel scours the internet looking for victims. Lives intersect, worlds collide, a family falls apart. And it all begins with a single email: “Dear Sir, I am the son of an exiled Nigerian diplomat, and I need your help …”419 takes readers behind the scene of the world’s most insidious internet scam. When Laura’s father gets caught up in one such swindle and pays with his life, she is forced to leave the comfort of North America to make a journey deep into the dangerous back streets and alleyways of the Lagos underworld to confront her father’s killer. What she finds there will change her life forever…”

This was an okay read for me; I didn’t find it to be the most engrossing read, but it was a book club selection for the group that I’m a part of. Halfway through I wondered where it was going to end up and when and how the story would connect to the rest of the story thus far. I was pleased with the ending of the book. I probably wouldn’t read this book again, though…it just didn’t impress me as a whole.

Will Ferguson is a Canadian author and part of the book takes place in Calgary.

*My progress for this Challenge is 6/13!!!

A to Z of books

I once heard/read a quote that said (I paraphrase): “every book (in English at least) is just a remix of the same 26 letters.” That struck me as pretty incredible! So, in honour of the English alphabet here’s something fun!!! I came across another book challenge: going through the alphabet with a category for each letter. So, here is my collection of A-Z books!!

Author you’ve read the most books by: At this point I’d have to go with Jodi Picoult as I’ve read a lot of her books. Most of them I loved; some faves would have to be Small Great Things, The Storyteller, My Sister’s Keeper, and House Rules.

Best sequel ever: I really struggled with this category as I don’t read a whole lot of series. If I had to choose a sequel I’d choose The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher and Shakespeare. TESB is a fave movie of mine, and I really enjoyed this literary combination of SW and Shakespeare.

Currently reading: A Desperate Fortune  by Susanna Kearsley.

Drink of choice while reading: Water or tea!

E-reader or physical book: Always a physical book. I don’t own an e-reader and don’t see any reason to get one!

Fictional character you would have dated in high school: No time for dating in high school…but I think I would have given Ron Weasley a chance? 🙂

Glad you gave this book a chance: The Pillars of the Earth  by Ken Follett. I had bought this book at a used book sale because I had heard it was really good. It took me a while to get around to reading it, though, because I think I was a little daunted by its size/length. But I was so glad that I gave it a chance!

Hidden gem of a book: Diana: The Ghost Biography  by Hilary Bailey & Emma Tennant. As a royal-watcher, I jumped at the chance to read this short book and found it to be very interesting. I’d recommend it to any royal-watchers who enjoy fiction!

Important moments in your reading life: my re-reads of the Harry Potter series. I always come across moments that I love, but I also glean more insight into things I missed in previous readings of this incredible series.

Just finished: The Scottish Prisoner  by Diana Gabaldon.

Kind of books you won’t read: Horror

Longest book you’ve read: Hard to know for sure!

Major book hangover: any books in the Outlander series

Number of bookcases you own: One large bookcase, with overflow of books tucked away in storage.

One book you’ve read multiple times: Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation  by Lynne Truss. I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to grammar and punctuation and this is one of my fave books on this topic! I have multiple copies and have been known to give this book as a gift to fellow sticklers!!

Preferred place to read: On my couch, or outside on my deck looking out over the forest behind our backyard.

Quote from a book you’ve read that inspires you: “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.” –Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix

Reading regret: Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. Someone recommended it to me and I couldn’t for the life of me find anything I liked about the book! I just wanted it to end, but I powered through and finished it!!

Series you started and need to finish: A Song of Fire and Ice  by George R.R. Martin…but in order for me to finish this series, first Mr. Martin needs to finish the series!!! Anytime now, George, would be wonderful!!!!

Three of your all-time favourite books: What a question!!!!!! 3 favourite books?!?!?!? How to even choose?!?!?!? Obviously I have to put Harry Potter  series by J.K. Rowling in there as one choice, Outlander  series by Diana Gabaldon as another choice, and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (which benefits from multiple readings over time).

Unapologetic fan-girl for: Outlander, and any Star Wars  fiction/novels.

Very excited about this release: Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander series #9). And whatever Jodi Picoult will be releasing next.

Worst bookish habit: Bringing home too many library books at one time.

X marks the spot: start on the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book: The Tales of Beedle the Bard  by J.K. Rowling, it’s a companion book to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Your latest purchase: Seven Stones to Stand or Fall  by Diana Gabaldon. This book is a collection of seven Outlander stories. I don’t actually purchase a lot of books, preferring to utilize my local public library. But there are a few special books that I do purchase.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up far too late): Secrets of a Charmed Life  by Susan Meissner.

Typo in “Anne of Avonlea”

Do you ever come across typos in books? I do every once in a while. Gotta be honest, sometimes I’m a little distracted by the typos…but usually I can move on from it quite easily.

Other times, however, it’s a little more serious when I stumble upon a typo. This happened to me at one point while reading Anne of Avonlea  by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This typo was unlike any other typo that I could have come across in an Anne book. This typo actually stopped me in my normal reading flow and it took me numerous moments until I could continue reading again. The typo was this: “Ann”…that’s Anne WITHOUT an ‘e.’ Anne’s entire premise is that she spells her name WITH AN E!!!!!!! How this important name/word could have been missed in a spell-check is beyond me. It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it?

Just in case you want/need proof of this travesty…here it is (sort of in the middle of the pic):

I realize typos happen all the time…I just thought this was an interesting one! Of all the words to get wrong in this book…it’s Anne with an ‘e’!!!!

Anne of Avonlea

Anne of Avonlea  by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

This is book #2 in the Anne of Green Gables series. In this book, Anne is 16 and has her first teaching job…right in Avonlea, in the school she attended as a student. This was a really lovely book. Anne is a favourite fictional character of mine, and this book reinforced that belief again! She makes me laugh and I just had to share this quote from the book. In this she’s writing a letter to her friend, Stella, talking about her experiences as a teacher:

It’s so hard not to laugh, Stella. I have to save up all my amusement until I get home, and Marilla says it makes her nervous to hear wild shrieks of mirth proceeding from the east gable without any apparent cause. She says a man in Grafton went insane once and that was how it began. (page 86)

I literally burst out laughing when I read that quote! Classic Anne!!!

I received the first six books in the Anne series when I was a pre-teen. I remember reading the books back then and enjoying them, but reading them again “for the first time” now in my adult life was a brand new experience! I appreciated Anne’s humour and Marilla’s sarcasm so much more than I did as a younger person. I’m currently slowly making my way through the rest of the series over the next months. Enjoying every minute of it!!!

*My progress for this Challenge is 5/13.